Am I the oldest woman here?? Is anybody else going through (or been through) menopause?

I'm 51 (today acutally! Happy birthday to moi) and have been having menopausal symptoms for a few months, but they've gotten worse the last couple of weeks. I've been taking Remifemin (black cohosh) for about six weeks and thought it was helping until recently. The furnace thing is overwhelming and I can't stand it!

Anybody got any suggestions or tips?How long does this shiitake go on for? Excuse me while I go stick my head in the freezer...

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 1:39 am

Addicted to B12 Enemas

Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 1:52 amPosts: 262

Happy Birthday, Captain Hot Flash!I'm currently enjoying peri-menopause so I get the added bonus of being a furnace AND having 17 day periods (thanks, Universe) so I don't have any suggestions. My suggestions usually involve cocktails and cookies, so yeah...I'm useless.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:57 am

Mispronounces Daiya

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:31 pmPosts: 1435

I'm 49 and haven't experienced menopause symptoms yet. The only change I've noticed is irregular periods, but some of that may be due to stress. I kind of wish I was starting menopause now, even with the unpleasant side effects at least it would mean an end to periods and not having to worry about getting pregnant ever again.

Muffnpants - thanks for the maca tip!

_________________Again, you are all brilliant and sexy. And I am lavender-laden and secure in my masculinity. - Sir Brancis Facon

Thanks for the tip, muffinpants. I've not heard of Maca, but will definitely find out about it.

PlushLifeGirl: Ah yes, I remember my last period two years ago. It went for 21 days and I thought I would need a transfusion. I had the hot flashes back then, but they are so much worse now. They went away for a while and it was all quite pleasant. I was thinking that this menopause shiitake wasn't so bad after all. Ha, psych! You ain't seen nothing yet. I never leave home without my trusty fan and face cloth. When I'm not flapping, I'm mopping.

bunniee: Be careful what you wish for. Apparently peri-menopause is about two years, followed by five years of menopause. Still, not all women have a hard time with it. I wish I was one of them. I started menstruating just before my 13th birthday and then had an irregular, short cycle of 19 - 23 days with periods lasting for 5 - 7 days. Did I mention the migraines and cramping? But I hear ya, sista - happy to leave all that behind. As for pregnancy, I couldn't think of anything worse at this stage of life. I met a 48 year old woman a few years back (I was 48 too) who was pregnant --- with triplets!!! --- naturally. Needless to say, I did not complain about my hot flashes then.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 11:27 pm

Slept through a huge sale, OH NO!

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 9:59 amPosts: 1709

catwoman wrote:

Ah yes, I remember my last period two years ago. It went for 21 days and I thought I would need a transfusion.

Ooh, that happened to me in June and yes, I thought I was going to die. I am getting menopause symptoms thanks to tamoxifen, so it is not a true menopause, but I haven't had a period now since Oct. I imagine I will get it again someday. I cramp and have ovarian cysts, so that part is fun, too!

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:58 pm

Mispronounces Daiya

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:31 pmPosts: 1435

Shark week failed to make an appearance last month. I'm hoping it's a sign that menopause has started, but it could also be due to stress. If I miss another period, I'll go to the clinic and get checked out just to make sure there is nothing wrong. Oh and there is no way in hell I could be pregnant, so that's not even a concern.

_________________Again, you are all brilliant and sexy. And I am lavender-laden and secure in my masculinity. - Sir Brancis Facon

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:47 am

Wears Durian Helmet

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 1:58 pmPosts: 833Location: Hamburg, Germany

I think I might be starting into menopause... I always had a cycle like clockwork, always 24 days on the spot. but the last one came after 27 days, and now I'm even 7 days overdue! aargh... I'm only 36!

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:39 am

Mispronounces Daiya

Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2010 3:31 pmPosts: 1435

jerusha wrote:

I think I might be starting into menopause... I always had a cycle like clockwork, always 24 days on the spot. but the last one came after 27 days, and now I'm even 7 days overdue! aargh... I'm only 36!

You may just be in perimenopause, which can last for years. I finally got my period, so no menopause for me yet.

_________________Again, you are all brilliant and sexy. And I am lavender-laden and secure in my masculinity. - Sir Brancis Facon

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:44 pm

Baking In The Flavor

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:20 pmPosts: 184Location: gritty urban NJ

catwoman wrote:

Am I the oldest woman here??

Just saw this. I'm 58, and I know there are older women here, too.

Quote:

Is anybody else going through (or been through) menopause?

Been there, done that, got the tube of natural progesterone cream.

Quote:

I'm 51 (today acutally! Happy birthday to moi) and have been having menopausal symptoms for a few months, but they've gotten worse the last couple of weeks. I've been taking Remifemin (black cohosh) for about six weeks and thought it was helping until recently. The furnace thing is overwhelming and I can't stand it!

Anybody got any suggestions or tips?How long does this shiitake go on for? Excuse me while I go stick my head in the freezer...

My per/peri-menopause with all the irregularities and flashes lasted about 2 years and started about that age. Try the progesterone cream - it worked wonders for me and loads of other women. As for the hot flashes, I still have one now and then, usually when I'm under a lot of stress, even though my last period was over 5 years ago. That's why I still keep a tube of cream around - it still helps.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:30 am

Tofu Pup

Joined: Wed May 16, 2012 8:57 amPosts: 3Location: Maryland USA

Thanks for posting, I thought everyone here was in college. I'm 52, and I take HRT. When I went off of my birth control pills 6 years ago I had horrible physical and emotional symptoms so I went back on them. A few months ago I switched from bc pills to HRT. I know it is controversial, but I need to consider quality of life.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 4:21 pm

Baking In The Flavor

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:20 pmPosts: 184Location: gritty urban NJ

starrynight87 wrote:

Has menopause driven you (emotionally) crazy? Has it driven your mom (emotionally) crazy?

. . . because my mom's driving me crazy.

I'm a number of years into the change now and I *still* drive my family crazy with mood swings. Right now I'm crying tears of joy over Puppy Bowl!! My step-mom was in her 70's and still had the occasional hot flash and my dad complained about her mood swings.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:24 pm

Seagull of the PPK

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:46 pmPosts: 10097Location: Bananaland

Sweet baby ray. I think I just had my first hot flash.I have rosacea and facial flushes already, but this was unbelievable. I found myself going through the list of what could be going on (niacin flush? nope. hot peppers secretly in my food? no. MSG maybe? not even.). I felt like I had a star melting down right in front of my sternum. I did not turn red at all, which was really weird.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:17 pm

Bought A BRAND NEW CAR!

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:47 pmPosts: 2295Location: Boise, Idaho

I can't decide if I hope my gf is going through menopause or not. She's 42, and its been 70 days! But it could be stress too. And I guess that amount of time since bleeding could still be just perimenopause?

But she has been so super clockwork til now! It could still be stress, and then it would ALSO still nearly the same symptoms.

But, its certainly been hard to watch her be so stressed, menopause or just stress.

_________________Evolved a vascular system, so I went from bryophyte to lycophyte.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:35 pm

Saggy Butt

Joined: Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:08 pmPosts: 1160Location: PDX

I was either really lucky or lots of soy all my adult life helped, as I'm the only female in my family for 2 generations who didn't have major hot flash issues. I did find that avoiding alcohol made a big difference with their frequency and intensity. Although I still get them occasionally, going on 10 years, they're barely noticeable. And I'd take them any day over the 40 years of absolute hellish periods I had.

Oh - and the next to last period I had was a year after the one before, and the last one was 15 months after that. Both were 10 day gushers.

_________________Formerly Kaleicious. I still love kale, but no more than lots of other garden greens too! Orach is currently my favorite.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 5:12 pm

Dead by dawn

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 9:54 pmPosts: 8746Location: Seattle

Tofulish wrote:

lycophyte wrote:

She's 42, and its been 70 days.

She could also have PCOS, which is quite common. I had 4 month cycles.

Mine went MIA for 4 months last year but then came back like clockwork. I have no explanation. Age? Maybe, but my mom didn't start menopause until 50ish and I had no other symptoms. Stress? Maybe (physical stress, anyway) but then I would have expected it to stay away until after my marathon versus coming back just as my training was ratcheted up to the highest level it got to. I don't have any reason to believe it's PCOS given that I've always been regular before and I've been regular since, and don't have any other indications of it. Bodies are just weird sometimes.

Post subject: Re: And you thought periods were a pain in the arse - Menopa

Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 9:38 am

Bought A BRAND NEW CAR!

Joined: Thu Oct 21, 2010 1:47 pmPosts: 2295Location: Boise, Idaho

monkeytoes wrote:

Tofulish wrote:

lycophyte wrote:

She's 42, and its been 70 days.

She could also have PCOS, which is quite common. I had 4 month cycles.

Mine went MIA for 4 months last year but then came back like clockwork. I have no explanation. Age? Maybe, but my mom didn't start menopause until 50ish and I had no other symptoms. Stress? Maybe (physical stress, anyway) but then I would have expected it to stay away until after my marathon versus coming back just as my training was ratcheted up to the highest level it got to. I don't have any reason to believe it's PCOS given that I've always been regular before and I've been regular since, and don't have any other indications of it. Bodies are just weird sometimes.

Yeah, she has always been super clockwork so its not likely to be PCOS. But she has a gyno appt like...right now!

Its probably either early menopause or just plain old stress. She's not eating less, or exercising too much (not enough, what with the depression and all).

Either way, she's not happy about the not bleeding!

_________________Evolved a vascular system, so I went from bryophyte to lycophyte.